When it comes to determining which books have sold the most copies throughout history, the task is not easy, especially considering the numerous editions and the year in which certain great works were published. Fortunately, and based on estimates, we have the list of the best-selling books in history among which are included some classics and other titles perhaps not so expected.
Don Quixote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes
Number of copies sold: 500 million (estimate).
Despite being published in 1605, the most universal work of literature it is also the best seller. With more than 500 million copies sold around the world, the story of the famous hidalgo de la Mancha who fought windmills that he took for giants confirms his influence beyond the seas and his timeless character, with hundreds of copies that follow and they keep multiplying.
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
Number of copies sold: 200 million.
When Dickens abandoned the stories of children and adolescents to address a historical episode such as the French Revolution, the public reacted in a massive way. A Tale of Two Cities speaks of Paris and London in the 1859th century, presenting them as the best example of social antithesis: revolution and tranquility, rebellion and peace. First published in All the Year Round magazine in XNUMX, the novel had a distribution of 100 weekly copies, leading to a brand that makes it the second best-selling book in history.
The Lord of the Rings, by JRRTolkien
Number of copies sold: 150 million.
Originally conceived as a direct sequel to his hit The Hobbit, Tolkien developed The Lord of the Rings as a much longer novel with a character of its own. Published in a year 1954 in which the fantasy literature It was not going through its best moment, the crusade of Frodo Baggins to return the ring of power before unleashing terror in Middle-earth engendered a cultural phenomenon that led to two other installments and a film trilogy turned into a triumph.
The Little Prince, by Antoine Saint-Exupéry
Number of copies sold: 140 million.
The best-selling short book in history, published in 1943, has managed to age and transcend the new generations thanks to its universal message. The adventures of that blond boy who abandoned his asteroid in pursuit of a better life and his discovery of other characters such as the geographer or the fox who represented a reality in today's world has become a benchmark on the shelves around the world.
harry potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Number of copies sold: 120 million.
The rest of the podium may reach you in terms of publication date, but in terms of numbers, both the first installment of Harry Potter and the rest of the saga are the most influential and best-selling works of our time. Written by JK Rowling, a single mother who roamed the cafes of Edinburgh in search of job offers, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone tells the story of the famous wizard with a scar who condemned him to face Lord Voldemort, the lord of evil from a wizarding world and parallel that for more than a decade caused a furor around the world, allowing the children to put aside the game consoles to get lost in the letters.
The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien
Number of copies sold: 100 million.
After writing a story during the 20s focused on entertaining his children, Tolkien published The Hobbit in 1937, a novel that would kick off that magical universe of Middle-earth that would dazzle lovers of the Fantastic literature in the middle of the XNUMXth century. For posterity will be the story of Bilbo Baggins and his adventure on the way to Erebor, whose treasure is guarded by the wicked dragon smaug which was recently adapted into a movie again by Peter Jackson. The success of the work after its publication was such that the publishers soon entrusted Tolkien with the continuation of this magical saga. And you all know how it continued.
Ten Little Blacks, by Agatha Christie
Number of copies sold: 100 million.
Although the original title of this 1939 work was changed to And there were none left after its publication in the United States, the best known as Diez negritos is Agatha Christie's best-selling novel, whose stories were consumed like donuts thanks to their ability to invoke a suspense never before seen in the world of letters. Located on an island where ten people arrive who at the time fled justice after causing a crime, the plot invokes the song Ten Little Indians at the same time that each of the visitors is killed by an unknown executioner. The play has been adapted for television, film and theater on several occasions.
Dream in the Red Pavilion, by Cao Xueqin
Number of copies sold: 100 million.
The best-selling work of Chinese literature It is today a classic to discover when it comes to understanding the history of the eastern giant in the XNUMXth century. Conceived as semi-autobiographical work by Xuequin, a member of a Qing dynasty that descended into hell in the same century, this work is also a tribute to the women who were part of the protagonist's life. Published in 1791, Dream in the Red Pavilion is considered one of the four great classical novels of chinese literature along with Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, On the Water's Edge by Shi Nai'an and Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en.
Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
Number of copies sold: 100 million.
During a boat trip on the River Thames in 1862, mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson began to tell stories to three little sisters that would lead to the creation of that senseless world encompassed in Alice in Wonderland, published in 1865. It has become one of those flagship books for young and old thanks to its metaphors and challenge of the Logically, the journey that little Alice began after chasing the White Rabbit is today one of the most influential works in the history of literature.
Did you read any of the best-selling books in history?
How sad that the most important book, they want to disappear, but GOD says very clearly that heaven and earth will pass over the Word of God remains forever. Amen